لعل نفور الجزع يأنس بالورد

فتشكر عيني ما شكا سفحه خدي

Perhaps the aversion of grief is comforted by roses

So my eyes thank what my cheek complained of

واني وجود المستحيل وانما

تقرب آمالي إلى البعد بالبعد

And I, the existence of the impossible, yet

My hopes draw near to the far with the far

مرام نأى عني وعز مناله

فلا بعده يدني ولا قربه يجدي

The goal of my desire turned away from me and the reaching of its glory

So neither does its distance draw near nor its nearness avail

هو الحب لا يرجى أمان مخوفه

فلو لم يرعني بالنوى راع بالصد

It is love, no security is hoped for from its fear

So had the shepherd not looked after me with intent, I would have been looked after with indifference

لك الله جفنا لا يجف من البكا

وسكرة قلب لا يفيق من الوجد

For you are an eyelid that does not dry from weeping

And an intoxication of the heart that does not awaken from passion

وحياك أيام الصبا صيب الحيا

فبالعين شغل منذ بينك بالسهد

And your life in the days of youth, the prime of life

So my eye was busy since between us with yearning

زمان أنفنا السكر إلا من اللمى

وعفنا قطاف الورد إلا من الخد

A time when we breathed in nothing but the wine of union

And picked nothing but the roses of the cheek

فيا زمن اللذات هل أنت عائد

بما مر في تلك المعاهد والعهد

So oh time of pleasures, will you return

With what passed in those dwellings and covenant?

ويا جيرة شطت بهم غربة النوى

بعيش الهوى لا تخفروا ذمة الود

And oh neighbor whom estrangement of passion carried away

With the livelihood of love, do not violate the pact of affection

ويانسمات الريح من نحو ارضهم

روائح احبابي ام الشيح والرند

And oh breezes of the wind from their land

Are you the fragrances of my loved ones or musk and basil?

وما حال قلبي في رباهم فأنهم

اقام بها بعدي وطال به عهدي

And what is the state of my heart in dwelling with them for they

Remained with it after me and my covenant with it lengthened

اعاقته الحاظ الظبا بشراكها

وخلفنه لم ادر ما حاله بعدي

The gazelles hindered it with their snare

And left it, I know not what its state is after me

الا حاجب للسحر من ناظر الظبا

الا قائد للجبر من كاسر الأسد

Except an eyebrow enchanting the gazelles with its glance

Except a leader restraining fate with his lion-breaking

الا مبلغ عني الشهابي إنني

أتيت إليه أزجر الغي بالرشد

Except one conveying from me the meteor, that I

Came to him, deterring caprice with uprightness

إلى منبع العرفان والفضل والعلا

إلى مطلع الإقبال واليمن والسعد

To the spring of knowledge, merit and sublimity

To the rising place of grace, prosperity and fortune

إلى منزل البلوى على ساحة العدا

إلى موقف الجدوى على سبل الحمد

To the abode of ordeals in the field of enemies

To the position of benefit on the path of praise

إلى سيد لم تبق علياه رتبة

لراق كما لم تبق جدواه مستجدي

To a master whom no station remains

Too lofty just as no effort of his remains fruitless

وما القصد إلا الانتماء لبابه

فإن فاتني هذا فقد فاتني قصدي

And my intention is none but belonging to his court

For if I miss this then I have missed my intention

كأني إذا ما لاحظتني عيونه

بسيط المني يسري على الأمل الجعد

It's as if when his eyes observe me

My outstretched hope flows on the smooth dune

وقد آب هذا الدهر عن ترهاته

وأبدلت أيامي صفاءً عن الحقد

And this time has turned away from its delusions

And my days changed to serenity from rancor

أخا النسب السامي الذي قد تساقطت

لبهجته الأنساب صالدة الزند

Oh brother of glorious lineage which pedigrees

Have inclined towards its splendor, firm as spears

مدحتك لكن مدحي الليث بالسطا

أو البدر بالعليا أو العضب بالحد

I praised you but my praise is of the lion with eloquence

Or the full moon with sublimity or the blade with sharpness

ولو منت عمداً في مديحك مفرطا

برغمي انتحيت الصدق في ذلك العمد

And if I intentionally exceeded in praising you

In spite of me, sincerity in that intention appeared

ورت بك زند المكرمات كما خبت

بنجلك نار الكيد من ضدك الوغد

The arrows of favors revolved around you as

The fire of plots extinguished against your enemy

نجيب بدت في وجهه سمة العلا

ولاح لنا من فرقه البارق السعدي

Najeeb appeared on his face the mark of glory

And the fortunate brilliant star shone for us from his forehead

كأني به والمكرمات توارث

يجر على هام العلا فاضل البرد

It's as if I see him while favors are inherited

Pulling the reins of glory, the excellent coolness

وينشب في كبد المآثر ظفره

وهل تعدل الأشبال عن شيمة الأسد

And planting his victory in the liver of glories

And do cubs deviate from the nature of lions?

فخذها سطوراً في طروس كأنها

دبيب عذار لاح في أصدغ المرد

So take them as lines in prose as if they are

The creeping of a fawn that appeared on the cheek of a spear

أتتك بها أبكار فكر تسربلت

لفقد بياض الحظ حزنا بمسود

They came to you as the prime of thought dressed

In mourning garb for the loss of good fortune with blackness

غوت برهة حتى دعا داعي الهدى

إليك فألقت في ذراك عصا الوخد

They wandered for a time until the caller to righteousness

Called to you so they cast in your bosom the staff of resolve